I attended the graduation of a friend's daughter there some years back and it was like being at a Communist Party rally. The young lady in question, whose parents are fine conservatives, was totally radicalized by her professors and peers and still spouts Marxist dogma. She's smart and will eventually figure things out, but what a waste! She's a reliable Rat vote for the next 10 years or so.
Sorry to hear about your friend's daughter - but that can happen anywhere. I do know that there are conservatives on campus and they are not holding their fire. The UCSB GOP club is hosting Ben Stein at a lecture this Thursday night. That ought to shake things up a tad!